She pushed the betrayal away. A hint of angry rebellion ignited inside her, a desire to prove that this man, at least, found her desirable, even if James did not.
She sent Charles her most becoming smile.
He took a step closer, and she caught a hint of the light, floral pomade he used in his hair. So different from James’s woodsy scent.
“I rather hoped to catch you alone, this week,” he murmured, stepping even closer. He lifted his hand and brushed a tendril of her hair behind her ear. “You must know how I much I admire you.”
He really was a handsome man. Kitty’s assessing gaze took in his clear blue eyes and slightly dimpled chin. He was like some golden fairytale price. He returned the inspection, and the sensual curve of his lips left her in no doubt that he approved of what he saw.
“I’d love the chance to get to know you better.” His eyes flicked to her mouth and his thumb stroked her cheek in a gentle, suggestive caress. “Can you escape your chaperone and meet me in the west tower tonight?”
It was quite clear that Charles had more than conversation on his mind, but she wasn’t averse to kissing him. Quite the contrary. If she couldn’t have James, then she might as well find out if another man could stir her desires.
Maybe she’d discover that a real kiss from Charles could make her feel just as dizzy and intoxicated as an imaginary kiss from James. She fervently hoped so.
There was little risk of discovery. Aunt Stella, her elderly chaperone, was always sound asleep by midnight, and the staircase to the west tower was only just along the corridor from the room they’d been given. There was scant chance of bumping into anyone else creeping around the halls. And she so desperately wanted an adventure.
Kitty threw caution to the wind.
“What time?” she whispered, feeling thoroughly wicked. She’d never done anything quite this scandalous before.
“Midnight?”
She sent him another encouraging smile. “I’ll be there.”
James snapped his jaw shut and pressed back into the side of the building. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. What on earth was Kitty playing at? Had she really just agreed to meet that cad Willingham for a lover’s tryst at midnight?
Charles might be planning to give her a few kisses in the darkness . . . or he could mean to ruin her completely.
James hadn’t exaggerated when he’d told Kitty that Willingham was a gambler. Fitz had kept him up to date with everything that was going on in the clubs during his convalescence, and he’d heard rumors that Willingham had tangled himself up with some very unsavory moneylenders. No doubt he’d come to Cornwall to escape them and their increasingly dire threats.
Was the man desperate enough to seduce Kitty? Possibly. He might even try to blackmail her into marrying him.
James let out an infuriated breath.
He’d never allow that to happen.
Charles Willingham didn’t deserve her. Nor did any of the other useless, fawning suitors who’d been panting at her heels. None of them would cherish her or appreciate her sly wit and dry humor. None of them would take her exploring, to all the places she wanted to go.
A barrage of images bombarded him, memories from when they’d played together as children. She’d always been up for an adventure, traipsing around after Andrew and himself, trying to keep up. She’d been a gorgeous, unshakeable pain in the arse—who’d grown into a gorgeous, intelligent woman. A woman he couldn’t think of without experiencing far more adult yearnings and desires.
James didn’t deserve her either, of course. But damn it, if anyone was going to marry Kitty, it should be him.
Chapter Five
Kitty could barely contain her nervous excitement. Aunt Stella’s faint snores assured her the older lady was fast asleep, so she swept her cloak around her shoulders and eased open the bedroom door.
This part of the castle was one of the oldest. Most of the guests had been housed in the other wings, but Kitty had always loved staying up here, and Gwyn had been happy to accommodate her. The stairs up to the tower were just around the corner, at the far end of the hall, and there were no other bedrooms nearby.
Kitty peered up and down the hallway. All the lamps had been extinguished, but moonlight filtered through the lead-paned windows. Detecting no-one, she closed the door silently behind her and hastened forward.
As she turned the corner, however, she saw not one, but two broad-shouldered silhouettes up ahead. She ducked behind one of the suits of armor that stood at various intervals along the hallway.
What was another guest doing up here? Of all the terrible luck?—
Heart pounding, she peered around the armor’s shiny breastplate. She was too far away to see much, but it appeared as though the second shadow was sneaking up on the first one, moving furtively and silently in his wake.
She squinted into the darkness. The first shadow was Charles, presumably on his way to meet her in the tower. The second shadow?—
